Saying the right things but doing the wrong things at CityScape

With CityScape's grand opening looming, the Republic ran a story featuring this amazing quote from RED Development's Jeff Moloznik:

"I think what separates CityScape from Arizona Center is that when you do
take the wrapping paper off and our tenants are open, people will really see an
engaged street front," Moloznik said. "If you want to have retail on this site,
it has to be facing the street."

With all due respect, what in the world is he talking about? Anyone with two eyes can see that CityScape mostly turns its back to the street. In that regard, at best the development is a marginal improvement on the Arizona Center.

Working counter-clockwise from the west side of CityScape's primary retail block at Central Avenue and Washington Street, the west side features an entry to the parking garage, a teeny little auxiliary door for Five Guys, and a back door for CVS at the southwest corner.

The south side is more of the same-- from west to east you have the CVS back door, a blank wall with some measly posters and windows, another parking garage entrance, and on the east side an entry for Oakville Grocery.

The east side is open as you look across the concrete jungle that a very few people still call "Patriot's Park" to the true front doors of CVS and Lucky Strike (recessed far away from the street in true suburban fashion).

And the north side features a secondary building that has no entrances facing the street.

I'm sorry, but a couple token windows and back doors do not "engage" the street. A walk down the street of virtually any major urban center in the world would illustrate the difference. Either RED is being disingenuous or, more likely, this is more proof that they're suburban developers that simply didn't have a clue about building an urban structure.

Only 20 years of progress?

The Downtown Phoenix Partnership is at it again. The people who brought us "Copper Square" now have plastered billboards around downtown and on I-10 celebrating "Downtown Phoenix: 20 Years of Progress."

20 years? How about 150? Yes, DPP is in its twentieth year of existence, but downtown Phoenix existed long before there was a Downtown Phoenix Partnership.

And all we have to celebrate is 'progress?' I'm all for truth in advertising, but 'progress' is a pretty weak thing to brag about. That word practically buys into the mentality that some suburbanites here still cling to-- that downtown was a ghetto that has marginally improved thanks to the presence of a couple ballparks. How about something a little more positive-- like '150 years as Arizona's urban capitol,' or something to that effect?

Downtown Phoenix and the Arizona built environment: not a favorite of our leadership

The azcentral voters' guide offers a fascinating bit of insight regarding our state's politicians. When asked in questionnaires to name their "favorite place in Arizona," almost all of the state-level candidates and most of the legislative aspirants responded by mentioning natural locations such as the Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater or (the red rocks of) Sedona.

A few central Phoenix candidates mentioned downtown-ish spots: Bob Thomas mentioned the Willo District, Katie Hobbs named the Encanto Neighborhood, and Lela Alston cited, of all places, downtown Phoenix.

But other central Phoenix politicos like Kyrsten Sinema (Camelback Mountain), Paul Yoder (Workman's Creek) and Ken Clark (Humphreys Peak) followed suit with natural locations.

Obviously, Arizona is a beautiful state and its natural environment is really unparalleled. But what does it say about the built environment that we've created that so few of our leaders find it memorable?

Dirt Lot List update

I recently updated the Downtown Phoenix Dirt Lot/Parking Lot list in anticipation of the teardown of the Sahara Hotel (which, despite a temporary lull, I still expect).

Indy film in downtown Phoenix?

Who knows how legitimate it is, but a pretty provocative tweet went out today about an independent movie theatre and bar opening in late 2010 on Second Street just south of Roosevelt Street. For years locals have said that the demographics were right for such a venture, so let's hope this comes together. Mrs. Downtown_resident and I are in for sure.

CVS, lose the booze

Cruising on the light rail next to the backside of CityScape (yes, as predicted CityScape turns its back to the light rail stop and the Luhrs buildings in true suburban fashion) one can see that the soon-to-open CVS store seeks a liquor license. Again, CityScape and its tenants demonstrate a profound lack of understanding for their downtown environment. The last thing downtown Phoenix or the poor souls struggling with addiction need is another place to purchase single-serving alcoholic beverages. CityScape’s CVS should follow the lead of its sister store at Central and McDowell as well as some of the Circle K stores nearby and abandon its pursuit of a liquor license.

Bandwagon City

I've complained about it before, but nothing illustrates Phoenix's shortcomings the way its sports fan base can. The latest example of what has been a decades-long issue in town played out during the last three nights when the New York Yankees came to town to take on the Diamondbacks, as Chase Field had to have been two-thirds to three-quarters Yankees partisans. You'd never see an embarassing display like that in places like Boston, Chicago, or even Los Angeles.

It's often argued that fandom in a local sports team is an expression of civic pride. If that's the case, what does it mean when the locals turn out solely to root against the home team?

All press is good press

Downtown and midtown Phoenix got some unexpected positive press recently from a pretty unlikely source. Paul Rogers of MyFord Magazine, a publication produced by Ford Motor Company and sent to all registered Ford owners, spent a few days in Phoenix to test out the new Ford Fiesta and-- instead of staying in the typical suburban environs-- spent his time downtown.

And when I say 'downtown,' I mean it...we're talking not about the relatively predictable and more tourist-friendly spots like the Sheraton and the Arizona Center, we're talking true, gritty downtown spots like Grand Avenue and the Clarendon Hotel. Here's an excerpt:

...in many respects Phoenix still feels like a city on the rise. Nowhere is this more appearant than in the emerging arts district along Grand Avenue...this strip of once derelict motels, storefronts and gas stations is the home of artists and other trendsetters.

Rogers goes on to make positive remarks about his visits to Sapna Cafe and the Paisley Violin on Grand.

Rogers also discusses the origins of First Fridays:

[Grand Avenue's] artsy flavor-- the sculpted lines of my Fiesta fit right in-- traces its roots back to Art Detour, an annual two-day self-guided tour of galleries and studios begun in 1989. The tradition became so popular that, five years later, the nonprofit group that established it made it a monthly event called First Fridays. Roughly 100 arts venues now open their doors to thousands of people on the first Friday evening of every month. Those who come to stroll include students from the downtown campus of Arizona State University, tourists and, especially gratifying for the organizers, suburbanites from Scottsdale.

The article (sorry, the magazine doesn't have an online presence to which to link) goes on to recommend Sapna Cafe, Paisley Violin and Gallo Blanco as well as the Clarendon Hotel for lodging. The story even includes a full-page picture of a white 2011 Fiesta sitting beneath the "Her Secret is Patience" artwork at the Downtown Civic Space.

So take heart, downtowners, what's going on here is still being noticed and appreciated.

More Fridays

Last weekend's Art Detour (most know it as the annual event where First Friday lasts all weekend) reminded me of a couple years back when the detour weekend didn’t coincide with a First Friday. Attendance for that Art Detour was way down and many of the artists and gallery owners who participate in First Fridays and Art Detour blamed the decision to sever Art Detour from First Fridays. Still, I wish they could have stuck with that experiment. I liked the idea of getting people into the arts district and Roosevelt Row more than just 12 times per year (and I’m sure a lot of the downtown restaurants and businesses did too). Perhaps some year in the future Art Detour can merge with a Third Friday to help that night’s art walk take off and at least give us 13 crazy Friday nights a year.

Another retrofit to bolster streetlife in downtown Phoenix?

Visits to San Diego during the summer are bittersweet: obviously the beaches and gorgeous weather are awesome, but it's hard not to feel envious while walking around that city's awesome downtown, with its abundant streetlife and invigorated historic structures.

While any Phoenician who's headed to San Diego knows the general contrasts between the two downtowns, one detail about San Diego has always really struck me as illustrating the difference between downtown San Diego and downtown Phoenix: our respective NBC affiliates' locations.

On one hand, you have downtown San Diego's entry, pictured above. While it's in a nondescript office tower, it sits in the midst of downtown and adds to the streetlife in the area by allowing passersby to glimpse inside to see the studio and filming, like the NBC mothership in Rockefeller Center.

On the other hand, you have downtown Phoenix's NBC affiliate. While it is at least downtown and now very transit accessible (with the Roosevelt/Central light rail stop a mere two-minute walk away), the building is a typical downtown Phoenix fortress. It's a single story with no windows and one lone doorway off Central (that is probably never used, like most of the front doors in the buildings along Central).

But all that may be about to change. Channel 12 announced plans to move into the Arizona Republic's building on Van Buren Street, and to modify their new digs so that they too would have a first-floor studio that's visible from the street. Cheers to that decision, and it's about time. Hopefully the vacated fortress on Central gets a new tenant willing to upgrade that building...a lot.

While it's not much, it's still good to see downtown Phoenix gain a little ground on its neighbor to the west.